Tulane safety Darion Monroe (2) creates a fumble by stripping the ball away from Connecticut running back Arkeel Newsome (22) during an NCAA college football game in New Orleans, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014. (AP ... more

Photo: A.J. Sisco, AP

Image 2 of 3

Boise State wide receiver Matt Miller (2) hangs onto a touchdown as Connecticut safety Obi Melifonwu (20) tackles from above during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Rentschler Field, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014, in East Hartford, Conn. less

Boise State wide receiver Matt Miller (2) hangs onto a touchdown as Connecticut safety Obi Melifonwu (20) tackles from above during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Rentschler Field, ... more

Photo: Jessica Hill, AP

Image 3 of 3

Connecticut head coach Bob Diaco, center runs out on the field with his team at the start of an NCAA college football game against Stony Brook at Rentschler Field, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, in East Hartford, Conn. less

Connecticut head coach Bob Diaco, center runs out on the field with his team at the start of an NCAA college football game against Stony Brook at Rentschler Field, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, in East Hartford, ... more

Photo: Jessica Hill, AP

UConn facing Army, not Alabama, but Knights know how to run ball

1 / 3

Back to Gallery

STORRS -- Hyperbole is a common practice of college football coaches and UConn's Bob Diaco was no exception when it came to this week's opponent -- Army.

The Huskies (2-6) -- fresh off their second win of the season -- will tangle with the Black Knights (2-6) at 3:30 Saturday afternoon at Yankee Stadium. The way Diaco spoke of the Army offense, which ranks fifth in the nation in rushing yards (294.8 yards per game), you would think the Huskies were preparing for the University of Alabama.

"That's what they do, they run the ball," Diaco said. "They run it great. They run it very proficient. They're talented runners, and it's just an unbelievable system to try to defend.

"It's an absolute defensive nightmare. I mean a complete and utter nightmare."

UConn has done a decent job against the run this season, ranking 27th in the country (125.9 ypg), but the Huskies have yet to see the triple option run by the Black Knights. Senior Larry Dixon, a 5-foot-11 fullback, leads the charge with 696 yards and five touchdowns, while senior quarterback Angel Santiago (576 yards, six TDs) and senior tailback Terry Baggett (285 yards, one TD) are the next threats.

"If you get them behind the chains, you have a chance to get the drive stopped," Diaco said.

"In high school, I was actually the quarterback of a triple-option offense," Adams said. "I think it's a little more advanced at the college level. In high school, the game's slower, it's faster now. I could bring back some memories from high school, but overall, it's a different game than it was then."

Even trying to prepare for the triple option is difficult because it's hard to replicate the system in practice. North Carolina State transfer Bryant Shirreffs, who is sitting out this season, had the task of trying to quarterback the system in practice during the week.

"How does a look team simulate (it) -- it's almost impossible," Diaco said.

Since Army has only won twice this season, teams have figured out ways to get the job done. The best thing the Huskies can do is make stops and not get caught out of position.

"They pick up 3 or 4 yards at a time going down the field and it wears on a defense," Adams said. "That's an aspect we have to be aware of. ¦ Guys have to be in the right spot at the right time."

Another remedy is keeping the UConn offense on the field. Quarterbacks Chandler Whitmer and Deshon Foxx did a solid job teaming up to drive the offense against UCF, which resulted in a season-high 37 points.

Foxx, who also plays receiver, became the first Husky to rush for 100 yards (he finished with 102) since Lyle McCombs did it Nov. 16, 2013. Whitmer threw for 142 yards and two touchdowns -- both to St. Luke's graduate Noel Thomas, from Norwalk -- and the Huskies finished plus-3 in takeaway/giveaway.

"I know with that option running the ball, it can really take time off the clock, so we might not get as many possessions as some other games," Whitmer said. "You have to take advantage of those, stay on the field and convert in the red zone."